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“I have been consistent in my conversations with you and I think I was consistent yesterday” during the radio interview “in terms of the fact that I feel fortunate to be here in the United States Senate representing Ohio,” Portman said. “We’re working hard for Ohio; I continue to do that. We’re working on legislation. We’re engaged in helping our constituents. I’ll be touring some Ohio businesses tomorrow that I look forward to. So nothing’s changed. I’m doing the work of our state and happy to be doing it.”

SCALE BACK SPENDING: Portman pens an op-ed for National Review’s The Corner blog.

A “DOUBLE SCOOP OF VANILLA”? USA Today explores whether a Romney-Portman or Romney-Pawlenty ticket would be “doubly bland or doubly competent.” On Portman:

“There’s little question that the Republican presidential nominee and Ohio senator have a lot in common. But whether a Romney-Portman ticket would double down on the stiff, rich, aloof image Romney is already battling — or the smart, clean, competent message he’s trying to project — remains uncertain.

…Both are button-down policy wonks who love to talk about the economy. Both are wealthy. Both have picture-perfect families and straight-laced personas. Both have Midwestern family roots, but are also steeped in East Coast culture.

“They’re both very capable, both very bright, both very decent and I think they’d be very compatible,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who is a liaison to Congress for the Romney campaign and has served with Portman in the House and the Senate.”

Tim Pawlenty

‘DEFENDER-IN-CHIEF?’ The former Republican presidential hopeful has been a visible presence on political shows this week. CBS News suggests that Pawlenty is coming across as “defender-in-chief” of the Romneys after the ex-Minnesota governor, in an interview with ABC’s Jon Karl, slammed the DNC for poking fun at Ann Romney’s horse via Web video. That’s a subject that’s now off-limits, the DNC later said.

“Early in the GOP primary campaign, Pawlenty criticized Romney’s stance on health care, dubbing the plan he implemented as Massachusetts governor “Obamneycare.” He backed away from the characterization during one debate with Romney, but given the chance at a subsequent debate in Ames, Iowa, last August, he returned to it.

“Obamacare” was patterned after Mitt’s plan in Massachusetts. And for Mitt or anyone else to say that there aren’t substantial similarities or they’re not essentially the same plan, it just isn’t credible,” said Pawlenty. “So that’s why I called it Obamneycare. And I think that’s a fair label, and I’m happy to call it that again tonight.”

That difference seems to have been patched over. By October, Pawlenty had dropped out of the GOP primary race, endorsed Romney and was appearing alongside the candidate at campaign events.”

PAWLENTY vs. PORTMAN, AGAIN. Another USA Today story suggests this may be a two-man race. That’s the assessment of Charlie Cook, of the widely respected Cook Political Report, in a USA Today story:

“Cook also said all indications are Pawlenty and Portman are the two leading contenders for the No. 2 slot.

I’m told that Romney really likes Portman a lot —really likes him,” Cook said. “But he really, really likes Pawlenty (and) just on a personal level (is) a little more comfortable with Pawlenty. I think it’s just going to be an agonizing decision for him between those two.’”

BECAUSE EVERYONE LIKES LISTS: Here’s nine things you may not know about Pawlenty, via ABC News — note number nine.

Condi Rice.............. pull her into a Romney Administration to address the biggest Civil Rights issue of our time.......the plight of the innocent children consigned to the poor failing schools in America's Deep Blue One Party cities...

If we are to end this horrible and unfair cylce of poverty our children need edcuated....................Adults step UP !

Republican leaders are calling on Mitt Romney to release his taxes. No one knows better that Romney is hiding something dirty than his own party. Wait for the backstabbing to begin sometime after the nominee gets selected. Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, not to mention Santorum are all waiting for Mitt to fail.

Lennie Pike: *Everybody* pays taxes!- Even businessmen, who rob and cheat and steal from people everyday, even *they* have to pay *taxes*!

Tax returns is just another "lets not talk about the economy" regardless of the GOP calling for it! He was vetted for VP in 2008 and 20 years of returns were reviewed and nothing there. Most members of congress also keep theirs secret. Just move on to more important revelant matters, the tax returns aren't going to change the fact that Oblamer is dropping in the polls like a rock.

Coming back to the economy: Mitt is GWBush II - more tax breaks for the wealthy, more defense spending, more deficits A distraction from the fact that Mitt and Ann Romney paid no taxes in 2009 and we're all supposed to forget that. Not gonna happen

Mitt and Ann Romney were OK with not paying taxes in 2009. They did not help support our troops in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Mitt wants people to vote for him but he will not act in a way that earns the trust of the voters.

Drop off the men that could have run for president this cycle and beat Mitt, Christie and Marco. Then drop the people that have turned him down publicly, Rice and Portman, then the woman that has her own problems Ayotte and who you have are the two people that might allow Mitt to pick them. Timid Pawlenty, he's not going anywhere politically anyway so might as well hook up with the man that insists on committing political suicide, or Jindall, who has maxed out his years as gov of La. Mitt probably didn't "select" his running mate this week because he's having a hard time convincing someone to do it. It would be pretty funny and telling if he ends up with some unknown politician from some insignificant state like McCain had to do in 2008.

Rob Portman would be great for the Democratic Party - think of the ads touing his connections to George W.'s failed economics and how Portman was in the thick of things - this would be a gift that keeps on giving!

Same with Condi Rice - but we all know that was never a serious possibility.

Rubio seems doubtful because of the 1956 vs. 1959 question.

Christie would overshadow Mitt too much - plus he is something of a verbal volcano. Better to keep him somewhat scripted with the Keynote Address.

Ayote is too inexperienced.

I guess that leaves boring Tim Pawlenty who got run out of the race last August by Michele Bachmann's trouncing of him in the Iowa Straw Poll.

Romney should'nt be taken hispanic votes for granted, he needs at least 30 or 35% of them to win and Rubio will deliver it and put florida in the red column, latinos will be proud to have one of them in the ticket even if he is not Mexican, he speaks their language (remember Jeb Bush campaining for his brother in spanish) it will be like when Obama was named the first black pres.Rubio will be the first latino in the ticket. Huge mistake to pick someone else.

Romney should'nt be taken hispanic votes for granted, he needs at least 30 or 35% of them to win and Rubio will deliver it and put florida in the red column, latinos will be proud to have one of them in the ticket even if he is not Mexican, he speaks their language (remember Jeb Bush campaining for his brother in spanish) it will be like when Obama was named the first black pres.Rubio will be the first latino in the ticket. Huge mistake to pick someone else.

Romney should'nt be taken hispanic votes for granted, he needs at least 30 or 35% of them to win and Rubio will deliver it and put florida in the red column, latinos will be proud to have one of them in the ticket even if he is not Mexican, he speaks their language (remember Jeb Bush campaining for his brother in spanish) it will be like when Obama was named the first black pres.Rubio will be the first latino in the ticket. Huge mistake to pick someone else.